Question

CIRCLE QUESTION!!

Answer 1

The farthest distance a satellite signal can directly reach is the length of the segment tangent to the curve of Earth's surface. The diagram is not drawn to scale.




If the angle formed by the tangent satellite signals is 154, what is the measure of the intercepted arc on earth?




26

52

77

308

Answer 2

Okay so we know that the angle is 154

Answer 3

I am trying to figure out myself, the wording is confusing

Answer 4

sorry! im going to screen shot it like last time

Answer 5

I'm sorry i cannot help you on this, it's not you but the wording of the question, i'm not exactly sure what it's asking for

Answer 6

Yes I think it is worded pretty strange too.
Anyway here's my drawing.

Answer 7

maybe wolf can help you out

Answer 8

its okay Thanks guys<3

Answer 9

Well I made another graphic.

Answer 10

Thanks wolf ^.^

Answer 11

Still I think the question is worded strange.
And yes I know one half of 154 is 77 and that is one of the choices.
Still (as we know) problems are written so that an incorrect solution will be one of the choices.

Answer 12

hint : sum of angles in a quadrilateral is 360
hint2 : radius and tangent intersect at right angles

Answer 13

x + 90 + 90 + 154 = 360

solve x

Answer 14

In the diagram, where would the 90°, 90° and angle x be?

Answer 15

use the hints

Answer 16

Angle x is 26° but what the heck does that measure?

Answer 17

it measures that angle^

Answer 18

let me knw if thats not clear yet @wolf1728

Answer 19

It is NOT clear because
• The diagram (given in the problem) was NOT labeled properly.
• the problem was not worded properly

No need to explain any further especially since the problem was worded so badly.

Answer 20

well labeling is part of the solution - i don't see any poor wording in the problem

Answer 21

"what is the measure of the intercepted arc on earth?"

I think proper labeling should be part of the problem. How about saying what is angle 'x' AND actually drawing where angle x should be?

No need for further explanation - I'll just go on complaining how rotten this problem was.

Answer 22

I completely disagree with you on that - The wording in the problem and the picture are very clear the way they are. What you wishing for may be true in general for other sick word problems. But this problem is good the way it is. I am done here okay ?

Answer 23

The picture is a bonus and redundant here. It doesn't convey any extra info except helping the student visualize the scenario quickly. Again its my opinion only :)

Answer 24

Well just to make one quick comment. Whan I see the word "arc" I always think in terms of a curved line.
So, if a problem is worded "a triangle has angles of 70 degrees and and 40 degrees. Are there any arcs remaining - if so what are they?
You think that's a properly worded problem?

Answer 25

intercepted arc = central angle

Answer 26

arc length is a different thingy

Answer 27

http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/geometry/GP15/CircleAngles.htm

Answer 28

that site looks like having proper definitions, look it up

Answer 29

I am not one to be very picky. Heck if a diagram says an angle is 37° and I measure it as 37.00537° I don't go beserck. I just like things to be explained clearly.

Answer 30

lol the wording in the problem is clear enough to me, so i don't see what you're getting at

Answer 31

Never mind. I think I would just continue this complaint forever.
It's over and done with.
:-)

Answer 32

In your previous reply you got confused between `arc length ` and `intercepted arc`

I feel that may be the reason for not understanding this problem

Answer 33

Could be and I'll admit I could be wrong.

Answer 34

Okay, and I am here for defending the person who cooked up this problem. Whoever it was, he must have spent quality amount of time "creating" this problem. I agree I could be wrong in interpreting too... I just feel complaining w/o having a valid reason is not appropriate. Anyways there is a class of uglier problems too, and this one cannot be binned into that class for sure.

Answer 35

Just to make this discussion positive - how did you you highlight the text in your previous response (arc length and intercepted arc were highlighted in gray).
I'd like to know things like that (bold , italics, etc)

Answer 36

I guess we're having a constructive discussion :) I appreciate we're not in a crusade against poorly worded word problems lol

Answer 37

to get the highlighted background, copy paste below exactly :

```
`this text will be highligheted`
```

Answer 38

Let's see

`this text will be highligheted`

Answer 39

Successful !!

Answer 40

Congrats ! :) the text between two "backticks" highlights the text

Answer 41

Any other text tricks such as bold, italics etc

Answer 42

there is a very good post on this, let me pull it up one sec...

Answer 43

this thread summarizes many of the useful latex cool tricks
http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/52bd214ae4b01cdca44a70d2

Answer 44

have fun :)

Answer 45

Thanks. By the way, I think this is the first time I ever complained about a problem (well at least to this extreme extent). LOL
and thanks for the link.
:-)

Answer 46

np :)